Gandhi, My Father(2007)
Gandhi, My Father is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language biographical drama film directed by Feroz Abbas Khan. The film stars Darshan Jariwala as Mahatma Gandhi, Akshaye Khanna as his eldest son Harilal, Shefali Shah as Kasturba Gandhi, and Bhoomika Chawla as Gulab Gandhi. It was produced by Anil Kapoor under his Anil Kapoor Film Company banner. The film focuses on the strained and painful relationship between Gandhi and his son Harilal, spanning from Gandhi's years in South Africa to his assassination in 1948. It received positive reviews from critics for its honest portrayal of a personal tragedy within a historic family. The film won 6 awards and received 11 nominations. It had a limited theatrical release and grossed approximately ₹8.5 crore worldwide.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Amazon Prime Video, MX Player, Eros Now, Airtel Xstream Play
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 2007
- Director
- Feroz Abbas Khan
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 16m
- Rating
- 6.8/10
Storyline
Harilal Gandhi, the eldest son of Mahatma Gandhi, desperately wants his father's love and approval. But Gandhi, consumed by his fight for India's freedom, remains emotionally distant. Harilal's dreams of becoming a barrister are crushed by his father's ideals. This rejection pushes Harilal into a spiral of rebellion, religious conversion, alcoholism, and poverty. The film follows their heartbreaking journey from love to estrangement to tragedy.
“The father of a nation. The son of a father.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Gandhi, My Father
Cast reunions in this film: Anil Kapoor & Akshaye Khanna (5 films together).
Trivia
- The film is based on a Gujarati play called 'Mahatma vs. Gandhi' by the same director, Feroz Abbas Khan.
- Akshaye Khanna, who played Harilal, lost a significant amount of weight to portray the character's later, destitute years.
- Darshan Jariwala, who played Mahatma Gandhi, had previously played Sardar Patel in a 1993 film.
- The real-life great-grandson of Gandhi, Tushar Gandhi, was a consultant on the film.
- It was shot extensively in South Africa to recreate the locations where Harilal actually lived.
- The film's release coincided with the 60th anniversary of India's independence in 2007.
- Despite critical praise, it was a commercial failure at the box office.




